Word to the Wise
Tuesday, March 13, 2007 - Tuesday of the Third Week of Lent
[Daniel 3:25, 34-43 and Matthew 18:21-35]"You wicked servant! I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to. Should you not have pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?"
During Lent I often preach parish missions - a kind of Catholic revival. Usually one of the services is a reconciliation service. I regularly choose today's passage from the Gospel of Matthew as the one I preach on. I am currently preaching a mission in Bardstown, KY, which is taking place at four different parishes, each of which hosts a night. The theme of the Mission is The Lord's Prayer. In that prayer, we beg God to forgive us to the extent that we forgive others! Indeed Jesus says the same thing in chapter six of Matthew where he gives his prayer as he does at the end of this parable. We must forgive if we expect to be forgiven. I know from hearing confessions that giving forgiveness is very hard for many people. Yet, it is one of the things that Jesus insists that we do. Every time we pray the Lord's prayer, we ask God for forgiveness of our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Do we want God to take us seriously? I will challenge the parishioners in Bardstown to forgive, and I challenge myself and my beloved congregation to think about this and do the same! Then we can say the Lord's prayer with a clear conscience! AMEN
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